East Roy St, Stevens (Capitol Hill)

The place I used to live on E. Roy Street was surrounded by green, leafy trees making it feel more like a residential street than it really was. Broadway curves and becomes East Roy, which then heads east. That section is dotted with beautiful apartment buildings that have more of a homey feel and ends at a park just north of Lowell Elementary School. To the west, there are coffee houses and shops within walking distance, not to mention the fabulous nighttime spots along Broadway. Capitol Hill is one of the more popular neighborhoods in Seattle, so rent and housing prices are a little high, but worth it considering the location and terrific restaurants, shopping and schools nearby. The part I liked best about living here were all of the trees along the street, making you feel secluded from the drastic difference you find a block away. The biggest negative was the lack of parking, since many residences don't have enough garage or lot parking for tenants. But public transportation is so close and gets you downtown within a matter of minutes. I always felt safe at night in my neighborhood, though it may get a little loud at times with nighttime revelers coming home from their excursions at one of the many Broadway clubs.

East Roy Street is one of the few streets that still has Broadway’s old charm. Joe Bar is my favorite coffee place in the city. The tiny upstairs space always makes me feel fancy and they have really cool local artists on display. The Harvard Exit Theatre, a standby for Seattle’s indie film community, is across the street. There’s also a funeral home nearby, so traffic can get complicated on the already winding road. Parking is nearly impossible here as the remaining part of Roy Street is residential, but keep looking and you’ll find somewhere.